Gas dispenser



Jan. 27, 1948. EIDBR I K ET AL 2,435,040

GAS DISPENSER Filed June 12, 1944 s Shets-Sheet 1 mvENToRs JAY A. moanwx MMLTER E MICHAELSON z WAYNE u HAY s/flQ/fl ATTORNEY Jay. 27, 1948. J. A. HEIDBRINK ET AL ,4

GAS DISPENSER Filed June 12, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.2 \26 p. 3

I, I I I7 4 .62 70 I vs 72' a2 Hyman/0mm 2o 2a 5a INVENTOKS JAY A. HEIDBRIMK WlL'I'ER. E. MCHAELSON AYNE w HAY BY l0 ATTORNEY Jan. 27, 1948. v J. A. HEIDBRINK ET'AL v2,435,040

GAS DISPENSER Filed June 12, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTORS ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 27, 1948 GAS DISPENSER Jay A. Heidbrink, Walter E. Michaelson, and Wayne W. Hay, Minneapolis, Minn., assignors to Air Reduction Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 12, 1944, Serial No. 539,956

3 Claims. 1

Our invention relates to valve mechanism which is particularly adapted for use in connection with small containers of oxygen, initially at very high pressure, adapted to be carried in a pocket of the uniform of an aviator in conjunction with a, parachute escape device including a mouth mask, so when forced to bail out at high elevation he will have a supply of oxygen to last him until he gets into air with a sufficient oxygen content for safe breathing.

Inasmuch as such tanks necessarily must be small and a. sufiicient quantity of oxygen must be supplied for keeping an aviator alive for descents from up to five miles and more, the oxygen has to be stored at a very high initial pressure. The conditions of storage must be absolutely leakproof, since these tanks may be carried for many weeks or months with-out use, and it is not practical to test them otherwise than from an inspection of the gauge to show the pressure of the gas within the tanks. For this reason the valve mechanism must be permanently attached to each of these tanks and so sealed in that leakage is impossible. This presents a problem in the filling and refilling of such tanks which has involved very great difficulties.

Heretofore the filling of these tanks has been effected by way of the same opening which carries the gas to the breathing passages. Such an arrangement prevents proper screening of the gas, also where, as here, a limit port of minute cross-section is employed, very great difiiculties have been encountered in preventing particles of dust or casing flake from entering the limit port and blocking flow of gas therethrough.

Also there is another problem in the valve structure of an apparatus for use in connection with parachute escape devices, which is that the valve for delivering the oxygen to the aviator must open instantly to full delivery capacity, and readily open in that manner with a single free movement of one hand of the aviator.

It is a principal object of our invention, therefore, to provide valve mechanism which may be sealed into a small tank or bottle capable of withstanding high pressures of gas delivered thereto up to an initial pressure of 2500 pounds and a final pressure of around 1800 pounds per square inch, and to provide means for filling a tank with gas at such high pressure wherein the filling passages are entirely distinct and separate from the passages for delivery to the breathing line, and wherein the valve means for admitting the gas for filling or refilling the tank is selfopening upon being subjected to the pressures 2 from the filling tank and self-closing when that pressure is turned off.

It is a further object of our invention to provide passageways from the interior of the tank leading to a valve chamber wherein is a, limit port of quite considerable length and which is formed in a material'of substantially negligible coefficient of .expansion, as for example glass, through which the high pressure gas must pass to reach the breathing line.

It is a further object of our invention to ar-- range the elongated limit. port transversely of the valve mechanism for delivering the gas to the limit port so that the height of the entire valve member may be reduced to a minimum, and also for use and convenience in inserting and withdrawing. it without the necessity of taking ofi or disturbing other parts of the assembly.

It is a further object of our invention to provide a plunger operated by a single swinging lever, said plunger having a needle valve at one end and a disc valve above the needle valve, so positioned relative to a circular valve seat in the easin that when the valve handle is swung up the needle valve will be thrown to fully open position and the disc valve will simultaneously be brought to engage the valve seat to shut ofi possibility of escape of waste gas from the valve chamber.

The full bbjects and advantages of our invention will appear in the description given in the appended specification and the novel features bymeans of which the aforementioned advantageous results are obtained will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings illustrating an application of my invention in one of its forms:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation view of the exterior of the valve mechanism as attached to the gas container.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation view taken on line 22 of Fig. I viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Fig, 3 is a plan view partly in section of the mouth mask, adapted to be quickly inserted in the aviators mouth which is connected with the valve casing for delivery of oxygen to the aviator.

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view taken on line 55 of Fig. 2. V

Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. '7 is a plan view of a gauge front used in connection with the valve.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation view showing the yoke 4 pressure based upon the actual contents of oxygen gas in chamber 35 of container or tank 33.

When for any reason the gas in tank 35 is either exhausted or reduced in quantity a fresh supply of gas may readily be introduced into and sealed in the gas container 33 in the following mannem;

The can screw. I6 is-- withdrawn; leaving the chamber l I entirely open with the conical bearing i6 is screwed into the internal threads of theft]: surface I! at its outer margin e p A opening ll until a conical shoulder I! out the, head i6, which is milled smooth and true to fit the seat I4, also milled smoothand; trnaabnut; the opening ll, contacts said= seattresulting inacomplete metal to metal seal of the-opening;

The opening I] has at its bottoma screen Idwhich is held in position by a; lock ring; $9: The: screen l8 overlies an opening which connects with the chamber 12 and which is surroundedat its entrance to chamber [.2 by a knife-edged valve seat 21?. Within. chamber: I21 ist-agvalve block 22 which is provided with a seriesiofrchannels along its sides :openingv toathe internally-threaded portion ofithechamber I22.-

A; cap. screw; 2.4:is;-.pr.ovided1with; an: externally thread'edi portion. 25 which screws: into the internal. threada of, the, threadedportion. of chamber; l.2.. The. canscrew. alsohas: thereon a; semi conicalbearing face; 251 which isaadaptedi to em gage a similar semi-conical face 2;Iratthe edge ofthe threaded; part: of: opening [221. The conical faces :26 and. 211 are of similar; dimension and; are milled true and; smooth so. when thecap screw 24, is SCI'BWBdf down tight 3.; complete metal. to metal, sealiseffected between. conical: surface. Zli andconicalsuriacell;

The. valve; block 22;is:proyided-.with a recess-:28 and the cap;screw. 24 is=provided;w1'th:a;recess 2.9 which; fronts: the recess Within; these two recesses; is. positionett a. compressiomspring 3.0 which,.when;.thezcap screw 2.4.. and head I26 are in, sealing. position; .or wheni there is: no:.pressure upon; the va,1y.e:-v piece. 22; -wilhholdithevalve piece 22 upon the valve; seat 2rl; andzthusiseal; come munication .witlrthapassagewayi 20:.

The valve casting; I lllisrprovidediwithz as threads ed nipple member; 3i to whichiis threaicl'echthe necken-d: 32; of, a small heavily wallcd oontainen 33. adapted to hold: oxygen.gaszahhighipressure. By welding, soldering; or otherwise; assshowniin' Figs. 1c and-.2. at: 3.3',.the nipplelmemberf 3-11. and container 3.3, are: permanently: joined andi hers metically. sealed. A port. 3.4; extendsathroughithe nipple member 3| into the;chamber;l2;. Gaafmm" the chamber withinthegas container: 33 may pass through that portitoichamberrflzandzthronghz channels 23; to the; space 36c between adjacent. faces; of valve. block 22 and capiscreve .24 and; said gas will ultimately reach a port 31 leading;- to; a passageway; 38;- whichz connects througln a nippleaawitha gauge. 411;.Ei-g. 2.. The; gaugeam; is provided with a dial 4! on which are calibrar tions .4:2 indi,ca.ting gas; pressuresto: 3.2000 pounds per square: incln The calibration; H100; is.-.asso,.- ciated:with;the;wo1tdzfiull;i Figcfliv Hence; whem the needle.=4.3zpolntsto 1.800;orto,-anyzfi urezaboye; 1800., the; aviator is advised: that: 11851135. a .tank or container of oxygen of the fullE amount required, 1800- pounds per: square; inch being; the preferred pressure for a full tank of .oxygem.

It. will be noted. thatzthis gau e; and; the oxygen pressure recorded by it have no conneetionzwith. the passageways which delivercgasto the passa es lea in to the breathing linepftheraviaton. Hence; the pressure: indicatediiszalways a correct hector member having a head 44, a shank 45, and a conical beveled face 46, will then be applied to theopening; H withithe conical face 46 engaging the conical. face;- l.i4. The connector member is provided: with: a hook 413 of a yoke member 49,

e which straddleslaterally the valve casing I0,

Fig,.8. A hand,.wheel 50 has a conical point 5| which engages in a conical seat 52 in the center of'ca-p-screw 24. By screwing the hand wheel upon the seat 52 the conical walls 46 of head memhen 4.4: will; be: drawminto; metalrto. metal sealing en a ement:withthmconioai;wall; 143:. The shank 45 of: connecton member; is unitedat; 45' through neck 45, with large supplyttankiof. oxy en, 411,-,the flow. of: oxygen; therefrom being; controlled; by valye 4-7;.

When the valye iilf fromlthestorage:tank;.of usual; const-r-uction, is;onened-, theg pressure of. the gas; from; the, storage tank-:will: the valve piece 22 from thevalve-seathl: against; the-pres.- sure: of; spring 38;. thus: permitting gas. to; flow through opening, 241: chamber I25; and passageway 34,;into chamber: 35; mime-storage tank 33:. At the same; time this-gaszwilrfiovw about. the valve piece ZZ-thmnghmassagesld, and passages-3J2 and 38 .to the gauge..40-.-.

Thus, as. the. tank is; being. filled: with gas-, the needle.- 43, will indicate on the, calibration scale 42-: the ultimate; pressure; of." gas in. the; container. 3,3; By watching; that; needle; and; adjusting the. rate. ofyfiowton gaseinto container. 33 the operator; can: determine-z the:- poi-ntat which. the; pressure; within; container 33} reaches. 1.809; pounds; pen square 1 inch and: at that. point. can: shutv off ,deliv erwofgas;from:.the;storage tank. Sincezthen the pressure of gas in chamber l-,2+.is; uniformlahoutr thevalve block;;22; the springgfl will immediately restoresaid valve; block. into: sealing; engagement withrthe kmfeeedgedmalyerseatll 1211c; con-nector: head =44; can1thembe-withdrawn and; thecap screw: i 62 restoiiedi intoisealing; Hosition; and: thus. thegascontaining tank 33:be:filleckon-refilledyery, simpltg-andiwithout; any loss-.oiigast Sealed rint the: nipple. 3 h is a. tube 55;; whichv ex-r tends directly: into; the chamber 35-ot gas; con-- tainer 3.3;. Thist-tube hasgsecured to itslower. end a; head piece.- 56; Fig 2 formed. witha chambera'hthereini. A-.set:.os,creens 5.8iisheldto.coverrthe otherwise; open bottom of; the:- chamber; 51 by, means of. a lock. ring '59s. Eromithe-inner end 6.0. ofitubeti-a .passagewm 6.4; Fig-5.6; alsa-in dotted; lines, Fig. 4 ,extendszthroug hithenippledh and; valverblock-z Hhinto.- a chamber 62': which; p.0- sitioned inwardly; from the. internally threaded: opening; l3.

The chamber"; 62-, Fig. 5; is; formed, witha smoothly milled conical bearing surface,- 63 and;- receives; the head. member. 64 02 a cylindrical memben 65, which-rise seated in the opening; or.-v chamberr L3;- The'headr. member. d4: likewise has: a. conical: milled: bearing; surface 6.? which is; adapted-to engage the:conica1;sur-face.-63 to; effect; aa metal to metal; scab between chamber; 62; and: a chamben-iil, Fie =.,.23and15;.. WhiChLiS t l- 11818 1 3? rated: fromichamber: I2, An extennally threadedw nut member 68 screwed into the internal threads of chamber I3, engages an annular shoulder. 69 of the head 64 and forces the same into metal to metal sealing engagement to completely seal off chamber 62 from chamber 61. The member 68 has a plurality of radially extended passages I8 which connect with longitudinal passages II and in that way connect chamber 62 with chamber I3, see Fig. 5.

The member 65 has sealed therein a cylindrical piece I2 of glass or other material having a substantially negligible coefiicient of expansion. The sealing is effected by a cylinder of packing material I3 surrounding the glass cylinder 12. Through this glass cylinder 12 extends a bore 14 of minute cross-sectional area. The showing of this bore in Fig, 5 is very greatly exaggerated for the purpose of illustration, as it is very little more than a capillary opening constituting a limit port for determining and controlling the flow of gas from the tank 33 to the passages leading to the breathing line. The bore l4 terminates at its outer end in a chamber I5 and at its inner end in a chamber I9 which through a passageway 11 leads to chamber 81. A cap member I8 encloses the chamber I5 except for a screen l9 which covers the opening to the chamber I3.

A cap screw 88 is provided with a milled conical face 8I which is adapted to engage a correspondingly milled conical face 82, When the cap screw, which has a, portion externally threaded, is screwed into the internal threads of chamber I3 so as to bring the milled conical surfaces 8i and 82 into firm contact, a metal to metal seal is provided which completely seals in chamber I3 from outside air.

The positioning of screens 58 in the center of tank chamber 35 has an important part in relation to the limit port I4, for this port is so small, a. very tiny fragment of dust such as metal dust from the walls of chamber 35 could block the limit port and thus cut off delivery of gas, which might destroy an aviator using the device.

It will be seen from the above description that gas from chamber 35 flows through the port 6| into chamber 62, thence through openings I8 and II into the chamber I3. Thence the gas flows through the screen I9, the limit port I4, chamber I6, and passageway 11 into chamber 6'5. From chamber 61 the gas flows through a port 83, Fig. 2 into a chamber 84 beneath a valve block 85.

We prefer to make this valve block of silver so that there can be no possibility of leakage at this point. The valve block 85 is provided with a conical milled surface 86 which engages a correspondingly conical milled surface 87 surrounding the chamber 84 in valve block [8. A nut 88 is screwed into threaded walls 89 of a valve chamber 98 and engages an annular shoulder 9| on valve block 85 by which the sealin contact on conical contact surfaces 86 and 81 may be effectively established.

A port 92 leads through the center of valve block 85 to needle valve 93. A shank 94 of needle valve 93 extends through a guide 95 formed with openings 95, Figs. 2 and 4, which communicate through an annular opening 91 with the valve chamber 98.

The valve stem 94 has thereon a valve disc 98 on which is a valve ring 99 adapted to engage a knife-edged valve seat I88. A tubular piece "II is secured to an externally threaded nipple I82 at the upper end of the main valve casting I8 by means of an internally-threaded nut I89, which has a ring I84 overlapping an annular 6 shoulder I85, Fig. 2. The members 98 and 99 are engaged by a strong spring I86 which surrounds a part I8'I of valve stem 89 extending above the disc 98 and valve member 99.

The upper end of stem part IN is adapted to slide freely in an opening I88 in the lower part of a plunger I89 which is in alignment with the opening in guide member 95. The valve stem is, therefore, free to slide in openings through guide member and into the plunger head I89, actuated by the force of spring II8 surrounding the lower part of valve stem 94 and engaging the lower surface of disc member 98 and the upper part of guide member 95.

A cam lever II I, Figs. 1 and 2, has a cam head II2, a curved arm ortion I I3 and a straight arm portion II5. A cross bar IIG extending through cam member III at the end of the straight arm portion II5 thereof, adapts the bar readily to be grasped by one hand and swung from its down position, as shown in Fig. 2, which is the valve closing position, to an up position, which is the valve opening position. The surface of cam head 'I I2 engages a ball H6 in a pocket II? in the top of plunger member I89. In the down position of Fig, 2, the ball engages a notch H4 in cam head I I2 which holds the parts against accidental displacement but still so that the handle can be swun very easily.

The cam arm is formed with a transverse slot III' diametrically opposite from the notch H4. The slot I I1 engages a pin II9 extending across between a pair of arms I28 and I2I, Fig. 1, and the top of extension member i8I. Thus the operating handle is not permanently afiixed to the valve, but is held in valve-closing relation by engagement of the ball H6 in the notch II4. When the lever system is pulled up to valve-opening position the slot I I1 drops off of pinv I I9 and the lever is discarded, thus insuring that the lever cannot be operated accidentally to close the valve after once the valve has been opened.

In the position of the parts of Fig. 2 with the straight part II5 of handle I II down, the needle valve sliding assembly has been brought to its maximum depressed position where the spring I86 is very considerably compressed, acting to hold the needle valve member 93 firmly in valve closing position over the opening 92 in the said silver valve piece 85. When the handle III has been swung upwardly through an arc of something like 188", the valve parts, including valve disc 99, will be moved upwardly a greater distance than the maximum expansion of strong spring I86. This releases the lighter spring H8 to move the valve ring 99 into engagement with the knife-edged valve seat I88 with suflicient force to block any leakage of gas from chamber 98,

The oxygen gas is thus freed to flow through apertures 96 in guide member 95 and through annular chamber 91 to valve chamber 98. Flow of the gas or leakage from the system is prevented by the contact of valve ring 99 with knife-edged valve seat I88. However, the oxygen flows from chamber 96 through a port I22 into a, chamber I23 from which the gas goes through a horizontal port 124 to and through a nipple I25 which connects with tubin I26 going to a nipple I27 formed on a tubular extension I28 which leads to a mouth mask I29.

From the above arrangement it will be seen that at all times when the chamber 35 of gas container 33 is filled with gas at an adequate pressure, this gas has been passing through the aire -one tiny limit port 1'4 and is present in the passageway 92 leading to the needle valve. The: sas is then ready to be deliveredinla continuous stream in a quantity measured by the; limit port itself at the delivery pressures: from 35 anytime the handle Hi1is swnng'frornitsfdepressed position. of Fig, 2 toii'ts upright nosition. It is therefore only necessary for the aviator forced to bail out athighelevations to swing: the mouths mask :29 into his. mouth with one-hand and tel-swing up ontli'el'ever assemblage. l'itl with the other hand and the necessary oxygenis themupon bein delivered to the: breathing: line going to the aviator.

The advantages of our invention have been given somewhat in detail in foregoing description. A primary advantage resides the complete separation of all passages andchamhers for filling the high pressure-containers with oxygen gas from the passages and chamber for delivering the oxygen gas from the container to the breathin line. It isneces'sary to-have agas container which can be readily filled, since the valve'assembly must be united with the containing tank permanently and in sealing relation. Hence supplying oxygen to the container or obtaining av container filled with oxygen at the desired high pressure can not be accordollshedv by substitution of a filled container for an empty container as is true. of supplies of therapeutic gases under most: ordinary conditionsof use. So the means in the valve assembly for filling or refilling the container 33 entirely independently of any passages for taking gas from; the container 33 to tlrebreathing is a highly advantageous and important ieature for safeguarding against getting dust-particles: into the minute limit port orifice, which might stop flow of gas therethrough.

A further great advantage of our invention resides in the meansin the. valve assembly which prevents leakage orwa'ste of gas either in supplying it to the aviator or while the high pressure container is being filled or refilled. 'l hnsfilling can only take placeafter connection tothe large tank supply hasb'eense'aled into the filling opening, and the filling: passages are sealed by'valve action. immediately after the large supply has been turned chi Valve means seal the'filling passageway and the tank itself toprevent escape of gas after filling. And when the valve controlling: handle for opening flow of gas to the breathing line is swung into a position toopen the valve thereto, there is simultaneouslyapplied to a valve seat in. the now chamber avalve old-- surewhich definitely" prevents any leakage.

A turther great advantage of our invention resides in: simplifications which. have greatly reduced both the length and the bulk of the valve assembly. A particular fealmre which aids in this, resides in the use of :anelongaited limit port mounted in transverse relation to the axial center oi the whole valve assemblage, sothat at the same a desired length at the minutelysma-I-l limit port is obtaizcied and yet the length of the valve: assemblage is but little: increased A further. advantage: of; our invention. resides in. the effective means for; quick opening of the valve.- whioh delivers the gas to thei aviator. The. valve handle ill in its: depressed: position extending parallel with the valve assemblage see curely locks the parts in position: to prevent any flow of oxygen. At the same time; because of camhead engaging the'balli roller, it is very easy toswing the valve handle into its upright posi- 8 which. brings about simnltaneousopening oi the delivery valveand closingof the shut oiri valve from the chamber. The. swinging: of the valvehan'die from closed: to open. position. is so that. can readily be done with one or two or asingle hand and never requires holdingth'e valve assemblage with the other hand,

as istrite of a number of rotary valve devices;

A very great advantage of our invention is found in the screening means for gas going through the port to breathing line, which. screening: means is located adjacent the center of'the. gas. container'away from the inner walls thereof, which is a source of metal flakes and dust. The advantage of arrangement is that it very efiectively' assures that no: :fla'kes or particles o1 dust: shall :go to the limit port, which is so. small cross-section that a very tiny fia'lce or fmgmentmight cause. a stoppage of flow through the limit port with disastrous results to the? aviator;

A further great advantage of our invention comes-from the provision of spring means for opening the valve for delivery to the aviator in association with a handle member non-permanenztly attached to the valve. assembly, which in its. down. position is 'eficctively' held against accidental: misplacement, thus definitely sealing the oxygengas within the container and; which when it is: operated to permit a; spring to open the valve; becomes disconnected from the assemblage when it will be discarded. and there will: be no in the: descent of the aviator for an. accidentalclosure. of the valve, which might happen from. the contact with the parachute cords or. from other reasons, and whichalso would be disastrousl We claim;

1. In a valveassembly and container of oxygen under pressure permanently connected and sealed one to the other, a delivery tube located toward the: axial center of the container" and extending a. considerable distance down into said. chambren. a set of screens at the open; end oi said tube,. a set of passages through thev valve assembly for conveying oxygen gas from the container toa breathing line, said passages? including a limit port. of minute. cross-sectional" area and also ineludingv a valve. chamber in said passages located onzthe, other 'sideoi the limit portfromthe delivery tube; the location or the delivery tube and of the screen system thereon operating to prevent any scale or dust: from being moved to the. limit port whichv otherwise might be blocked by'very small. fragments of: tank scale or dust.

2.. Ina valve assembly: and container of oxygen gas: permanently connected and sealed oneto the other; a, set of passages through the assembly for conveying oxygen gas irons the container to a. breathmg line, a valve: said passages and swing tending to hold the valve: in open position, a handle non-permanently attached to the top of the-valve. assembly having a,- cam head adapted to holdxthevalve closed when the. handle l-sdown, said handle. being connected to theval ve assembly in such manner that when it isthrown into an upright position the spring will actuate the valve into open position and the handle: will become disconnected from the assembly so: that tlrea can not he accidentally closed;

3.. In; alvaive assembly and container of oxygengas permanently c'ionnected and sealed one to the other a set-of passages through the assembly for conveying oxygen gas from the container to a breathingsline, a valvginsaid passages and spring means tending to hold the valve in open position, a handle non-permanently attached to the top of the valve casing embodying a cam head a curved portion and a straight portion, the latter adapted to lie substantially parallel with the valve assembly when the handle is down in valve closing position, a standard at the end of the assembly embodying a transverse pin, a transverse slot in the cam head of the handle adapted to be hooked over the pin, whereby when the handle is thrown into its upright position to permit the spring to open the valve the handle will become disconnected and drop away from the assembly so that the valve can not be accidentally closed.

JAY A. HEIDBRINK.

WALTER. E. MICHAELSON.

WAYNE W. HAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,615,439 Cooper Jan. 25, 1927 918,143 Goehring Apr. 13, 1909 10 1,144,758 Desmond June 29, 1915 2,117,952 Gourdon May 17, 1938 2,089,609 Houghton Aug. 10, 1937 929,337 Stebbins July 27, 1909 5 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 676,923 Germany June 15, 1939 799,122 France Mar. 27, 1936 

